At an Education Foundation of Osceola County event on June 1, Osceola School District Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace made a case that “We are past COVID.”
Even if it wasn’t a medical opinion, it meant the School District is ready and confident to bring back face-to-face partnering programs — like the Foundation’s Bookmark Buddies.
That partnering program matched volunteers with third-graders who needed help with reading at grade level. But it was a COVID-19 casualty, and was put on hold the last two school years.
Wednesday’s breakfast event, attended by school, business and government leaders, announced a “Buddies re-boot” and a return to the reading program.
“We feel like we can welcome volunteers and community partners back into our schools, and our student need it more than ever,” Pace said. “We recently got back our third-grade FSA reading results; they’re not wonderful. That has nothing to do with the amazing work of our teachers and school leaders over the last two years, but there are still some significant gaps.”
She noted the research showing support of reading in third grade is a critical high-school graduation predictor.
“It makes a significant difference,” Pace said. “The gaps could set them up for challenges across the curriculum.”
Before the pandemic, Bookmark Buddies was a way to get mentors to get caring and concerned community members to work with the student of Osceola County who needed that exact kind of interaction.
Mentors meet with their students, third-graders who need that extra little push to become a successful reader and lifelong learner, for 30 minutes each week at their school and help them practice and improve their reading skills. No prior tutoring experience is necessary, and all materials are provided — all that’s left is to make an impactful bond between student and mentor.
“The Foundation makes it easy — you show up,” Pace said. “It’s a matter of investment of time, and heart.”
State Representative and Education Foundation President Fred Hawkins said having a mentor can keep an at-risk child on the education path.
“Projects like this can make a difference changing their trajectory,” he said. “We can be what the rest of the state looks at."
Prior to taking a pandemic pause, the program had over an 80 percent success rate in students passing the state-mandated FSA tests.
The program, which had about 500 members at the time of the 2020 COVID shutdown, is every bit about “buddies” as it is “bookmarks,” said Education Foundation Executive Director Kerry Avery.
“We’re only re-launching in five schools right now, and in those alone there are 500 students who need that help, that interaction with a caring adult,” Avery said. “We know we will need many more volunteers when we go back into all 27 of our county’s elementary schools.”
The five schools where Bookmark Buddies will return to are Central Avenue Elementary and P.M. Wells Charter in Kissimmee, Lakeview Elementary in St. Cloud, Cypress Elementary in Buenaventura Lakes and KOA Elementary in Poinciana.
Those who wish to volunteer must go through the district’s simple OASIS clearing process. For more information go to www.foundationosceola.org/bookmark-buddies and scan the QR code on the page, or call the Education Foundation at 407-870-4855.
